Traeshon Holden feared his career was over. Now the Alabama transfer is ready to ‘be the man’ for Oregon Ducks’ ‘loaded’ receiver corps
Traeshon Holden could not contain his giddiness or bravado earlier this week as he brazenly dissected the Oregon Ducks’ overhauled wide receiver room and his status among it.
In between wide, toothy smiles and steely-eyed glares, the high-profile transfer from Alabama promised big things for himself and a talented group littered with new faces and up-and-coming talent.
“We’re loaded,” he said, referring to Oregon’s collection of wideouts.
“Be the man,” he said, revealing what he will bring to the Ducks.
But there was a time, only six months ago, when it looked like Holden wouldn’t be the man on any team. On Feb. 15, shortly after midnight, he was arrested by Eugene police after they responded to a domestic dispute call that featured possible shots fired, the aftermath of an incident that involved Holden and his girlfriend. He was accused of felony unlawful use of a weapon and coercion and misdemeanor menacing, and Oregon coach Dan Lanning dismissed Holden based on preliminary accounts by law enforcement.
But those accounts were contradicted by several eyewitnesses and body camera footage and, after a two-day investigation by the Lane County District Attorney’s office, all charges were dropped. Lane County deputy district attorney Chris Parosa told The Oregonian/OregonLive in February that Holden made “legitimate attempts to deescalate” the dispute, revealed that shots were not fired and, if anything, it was Holden who had a case for acting in self-defense.